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Table 1 Summary of articles included in scoping review to examine sensor-based assessment of social isolation in community-dwelling older adults

From: Sensor-based assessment of social isolation in community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review

Study (author and year)

Study location

Population sample

Definition of SI from study

Self-reported measure of SI

Type of sensor technology

Study’s conclusion

Martinez et al. [28], 2017

Mexico

7 participants between 60–74 years old, 2 M and 5 F

The lack of contact and interaction with others

LSNS

Motion sensor: Sensor beacons Smartphone: mobile applications

The predictive model demonstrated 100% accuracy for determining the level of SI in a 7 person sample

Schrempft et al. [29], 2019

UK

267 participants aged 50+, 136 M and 131 F

The absence of regular contact with family and friends and lack of involvement in social organizations

Unique scale created for study

Actigraphy: wrist-mounted accelerometer (triaxial actigraph)

A higher level of SI correlates with lower level of physical activity and a higher level of sedentary behaviours

Tully et al. [30], 2019

Denmark, Spain, Germany, UK

1360 participants 65+ years old across 4 countries; 517 M and 843 F

The quantitative measure of social relationships and contacts

LSNS-6

Actigraphy: hip-mounted accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+)

Physical activity was not associated with SI. Sedentary behaviours may be linked to SI in older adults. Sedentary behaviours and physical activity were found to be not significant predictors of loneliness

De Koning et al. [31], 2019

UK

112 participants 65+ years old living across 23 rural villages or isolated dwellings in Wiltshire, South West England. 54 M and 58 F

Infrequent social contact

Social Capital Module (SCM) – 3 items based on SI

Actigraphy: waist-mounted Actigraph (GT3X)

There were no associations between loneliness, SI and objectively measured physical activity

Herbolsheimer et al. [32], 2017

Germany

1162 participants 65+ years old from 1 city who were German speaking, not institutionalized, and not using a wheelchair, 665 M and 497 F

Restricted social networks; a perceived lack of social support by family, friends, and neighbours

LSNS-6

Actigraphy: leg-mounted accelerometer (ActivPAL single-axis accelerometer)

Low indoor physical activity was associated with being socially isolated from family and low outdoor physical activity was associated with being socially isolated from friends and neighbours

Goonawardene et al. [33], 2017

Singapore

46 participants between 60 and 91 years old, mostly of Chinese descent (87%), in Singapore. 19 M and 27 F

A lack of interpersonal contacts with society

LSNS

Motion sensor: passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors

The average time spent outside home is associated with the social loneliness level, social network score and the overall SI level of the elderly and the time spent in the living room is positively associated with the emotional loneliness level

McCrory et al. [34], 2014

Ireland

4888 participants 50+ years old, 2242 males and 2646 females

Lack of social connectedness or social support

Berkman Social Network Index

Physiological sensor: electrocardiography

There is a negative association between social network size and resting heart rate

Benson et al. [35], 2020

USA

759 participants aged 58–85. 356 M and 403 F

Lack of contact with others, measured through self-report and objective measures of social connections

SI (expanded version of social disconnectedness score by Cornwell and Waite for the NSHAP study; 9 variables)

Actigraphy: wrist-mounted actigraph (Actiwatch Spectrum),

SI and loneliness had a low correlation to each other. Both were associated with actigraph measures of more disrupted sleep (wake after sleep onset, % sleep) but not associated with actigraph total sleep time. Increased loneliness associated with more insomnia symptoms and shorter sleep duration (assessed by single question); SI was not. More isolated individuals spend longer time in bed

  1. SI: Social Isolation; LSNS: Lubben Social Network Scale; LSNS-6: 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale; NSHAP: National Social Life, Health and Aging Project; M: male; F: female